Companions of Christ, Chatham January July 2018
Who are we? The Companions of Christ is an emerging, ecumenical, apostolic community rooted in Ignatian Spirituality open to women both lay and ordained. The Companions of Christ seek to live the Gospel values through a simple life style and celibacy in view of following and imitating Christ. The community is a part of the Diocese of Rochester and is based in the centre of Chatham in Medway, Kent. At the heart of the community s life is the mission of Christ. A part of that mission is to be an open space for prayer and celebration. In this folder you will find the things we offer this spring and summer. We hope that you will be able to join us in some of these events! With Every Blessing, Susanne & Madeleine Companions of Christ 65 Maidstone Road Chatham, Kent ME4 6DP United Kingdom Rev Susanne Carlsson 07795 167 603 susannecarlssons@hotmail.co.uk Rev Madeleine Dahl 07469 246 443 madeleine.dahl@outlook.com
Sharing Bread & Life One Wednesday evening every month (except in March when there will be an Easter Midnight Holy Communion service, see below) we invite to a shared meal and a meditative Eucharist. You are welcome to come for the whole evening or only for the Eucharist. 6 pm A shared meal Please bring something to share. 8 pm Eucharist Followed by tea & coffee. Quiet Days Even the darkness will not be dark to you - encountering God in the desert Saturday 10 th March 10am-4pm Led by Madeleine Dahl & Sue Cherry "Thy Kingdom Come" Saturday 12 th May 10am-4pm Led by Madeleine Dahl & Sue Smith We will meet on the following dates: 31 st January, 28 th February, 11 th April, 16 th May & 13 th June My words are not just mine
- A quiet day with creative writing Saturday 7 th July 10am-4pm Led by Madeleine Dahl Writing is a way of praying. God can communicate with us through what we write. During this quiet day we will experience different creative writing exercises enabling us to get in touch with the words behind our words, which may lead us to God s Word. This day will be held in the garden if the weather permits. Practicalities & how to book Light refreshments will be provided during all Quiet Days. Bring your own packed lunch. There is no charge, but donations welcome. As there are a limited number of places, you are advised to book as soon as possible, at least one week before the actual Quiet Day. Holy Week A Day of Waiting - Prayer at the tomb of Jesus Holy Saturday 31st March 1-4pm Holy Saturday, the day after the brutal death of Jesus, is a day of confusion and waiting. What happens after the death of someone you love? What kind of thoughts and feelings come to the surface? For all who loved and followed Jesus this day was a time of deep loss and sorrow. What did they do? How did they react? In prayer and meditation we will be with the disciples this day and at the same time be with our own experiences of loss and sorrow. Contact: Madeleine Dahl, 07469 246443 madeleine.dahl@outlook.com
To book As there are a limited number of places, you are advised to book as soon as possible, at least one week before Holy Saturday. Contact: Madeleine Dahl, 07469 246443 madeleine.dahl@outlook.com Attic Retreats In our attic we have a created a space dedicated for retreats. The retreat space has two bedrooms, a prayer room, a bathroom and a small kitchenette for selfcatering. You are welcome to come to Attic retreats to spend a quiet day on your own or a longer retreat with or without spiritual accompaniment. Please contact one of us to book. Midnight Holy Communion Holy Saturday 31st March 11 pm We gather around the Easter fire on the patio at the back of the house. After the Eucharist we will continue to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus with a Bring & Share meal. You are invited to bring things you have given up for Lent or other things.
The Spiritual Exercises The Spiritual Exercises grew out of Ignatius' personal experience as a man seeking to grow in union with God and to discern God s will. Eventually Ignatius gathered these prayers, meditations, reflections, and directions into a carefully designed framework of a retreat, which he called spiritual exercises. The Exercises are a creative and flexible programme of prayer centred on the life of Christ. Their purpose is to help you develop a deeper and more active relationship with God and the world. The Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius is not a book to be read for spiritual enlightenment. It describes a series of meditations and contemplations on Christ, the world and ourselves. It is a set of guidelines to help the retreat director give the Spiritual Exercises to another. We offer three ways of making the Spiritual Exercises: A 30 day silent guided retreat 3 separate 10 day silent guided retreats Making a guided retreat as part of you daily life (meeting a Spiritual Director regularly and praying at home every day). For more information contact: Susanne Carlsson, 07795 167 603 susannecarlssons@hotmail.co.uk St. Ignatius of Loyola was born in 1491 in northern Spain and he is the founder of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits.
The Emmaus Garden From the name of our community, The Companions of Christ, we have created a prayer garden at the back of the house centred around the Emmaus story (Luke 24:1-35) The garden has five prayer stations following the Emmaus story, from the confusion after Jesus s death and resurrection to experiencing the journey along the way, learning more and more about who we are and who Jesus is. However, the stations can all be used individually and without relating them to the particular story. If you wish to have access to the garden please contact one of us. There is an Emmaus house (see photo) in the garden, which can be booked for private prayer or for a group (max. 9 people). The house can be heated by a log burner and logs are provided. Garden Open Day Sunday 24 th June 2-5pm Afternoon tea Garden games Prayer walks The Quiet Days are organized in partnership with Rochester Spirituality Network and St Paul with All Saints Parish & St Mary & St John s Parish, Chatham
Interested in Community Life? Would you like to know more about what it means to live in a community? Have you ever considered that God could be calling you to this way of life? If you would like to explore living with others in community, you are welcome to come to visit/ stay with us and spend some time participating in our daily life or prayer and service in the light of the Gospel. Please contact one of us. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. (1 Thess 5:24) Companions of Christ 65 Maidstone Road Chatham Kent ME4 6DP